Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/35464
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

One of the best pieces of advice I've read, which I didn't believe at all when I first started writing (I think it was either Natalie Goldberg or Anne Lamott who said it, and either way every writer should read Writing Down The Bones and Bird by Bird) was don't hold onto your writing gems because you think they're gold dust and deserve a bigger, better project or worry that better ideas won't come further down the line. They will and they will be brighter.

When I wrote my first novel I thought, I'll never come up with another idea this good, this has to be the best idea I'll ever get. I held onto it and honed it and honed it until I'd flogged the damn thing to death.

Then I wrote my second novel and thought, no, no THIS is the best idea I've ever had. This is it, if I can't sell this, I can't sell ANYTHING. This is the end of the idea road, it doesn't get any better.

And then I came up with my idea for my third novel!! :)

So, when you have something that feels like gold, don't cling on to it for dear life. Don't hold anything back. Put it all in and put it out there. Don't be afraid. Even though you can't see it, just around the corner there's a bigger pot gold just sitting there waiting for you. And what's more exciting is that with every project, you're better equipped to handle what's in the pot!

All the luck in the world to you.

Original score: 4